Spring-driven toy



April 1, 1947- M. R. SPENCER SPRING-DRIVEN TOY Filed March 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l 331 3 htt I lrllllll l llllllllllll lll llllllll f l fllll April 1,1947. R, SPENCER SPRING-DRIVEN TOY Filed March 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ///l/Z0/7 E 5 BY Patented Apr. l, 1947 UNITED STATES PATEN'T OFFICE SPRING-DRIVEN "rov Milton 1:. Spencer, Woodstock, n1. Application March 17, 1944, Serial No. 526,913 a 9 Claims.

This invention relates to spring-driven toys and more specifically to a toy having a wheelbearing body propelled under the action of a spring, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction which will be i highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,730,634, dated October 8, 1929, granted to me on a Wheeled toy.

Among the salient objects of this invention is toprovide a simple and efficient arrangement of parts for propelling a wheel-bearing toy, in which the arrangement includes, among other things, a mechanism functioning to prevent overwinding of the spring power means.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheel-bearing toy designed and built to simulate a commercial vehicle of a miniature scale and wherein there is employed for placing the spring power means of the toy in condition to propel the same, an element in the form of a bumper arranged and adapted to be pivoted in a direction to place the spring power means in such condition, thus eliminating the employment of a structure which would otherwise distort the simulation of a commercial vehicle.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of a simple arrangement for increasing .or decreasing the tensile strength of the described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by ref-- erence to the accompanying drawings showing thepreferred form of construction,.and in which: 4

Fig. 1 is a "longitudinal vertical sectional detail view of a wheel-bearing toy embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the mounting structure taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detailyiew taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;;

Fig. 6 is a plan view ofcthe chassis structure of a vehicle showing my invention associated therewith and illustrating a-mod1ified form {of construction over that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 1-4 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail yiew taken substantially 'on line ii- 8 of Fig; 6.

In the drawings I have illustrated the preferred form of construction of my invention. Inthis connection, and in carrying out my inyention; I

provide a toy (referring particularlyto Fig. to 5 inclusive), which 'includes a body lll'ofwany suitable designand shape and which maybe 0r.-

namentallyrpainted and shaped to simulate a miniature commercial vehicle-1 At eachend ,o f this body Hi there are carried axles *I I and I2,

and mounted on these axles 'for rotation thereshown in Fig. 1, a mounting plate l lcomprising sections it and iii adjnstably connected together for adjustment longitudinally with respect ,to each other. This adjustability of the sections 15 and i3 is accomplished by forming in the tail end it of the section 1-5 an elongated slot 4-8 in which rides an inturned portion-L9 of the sec,- tion it. Also formed in the tail end I! of the section it is a second elongated slottli communicating with which are notches 2i. Adapted to ride in the slot 20 and engaged in the notches .2 is an inturned portion 22 of the section 16. Thus, by disposing the inturned portion. 22 in either one of the notches 21 or in the position shown in Fig. 3, the tall 15 @maybe releasably adjusted longitudinally with respect to the tailportion ii of the section 15. V l

Fixedly mounted in the section i5 of .the mounting plate M is a bushing 23 and rotatably mounted on this bushing 23 is .a gear 24. This gear 24 provides a drum 25. This .drum 25 is formed by elongated projections 26 struck from the body of the gear 24 and disposed atsubstantially right angles with respect-thereto. :On this drum 2% is adapted to be wound a portion of a spring 2 The endZB of the spring :2] is connected to one of the projections 26 as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end 29 of the-spring is connected as at 36 to the 'endof the section l6 ofthe'mountingplate I 4.

Projected through :the bushin 2'5 and carried by the body lfl'is a shaft 3| preferably substantially square in cross section. This shaft 3| carries a bumper element 32, and mounted on this shaft 3| and rotatable therewith by pivotal movement of the bumper element 32 is a pawl 33. This pawl 33 has an inturned end portion 34 adapted to engage the detents 35 provided by striking the projections 26 from the gear 24.

The gear 24 meshes with a pinion 35 carried 'by a stud shaft 3'! in turn carried by the mounting plate M. This pinion 36 is formed integrally with a gear 38. The gear 38 operatively meshes with a driven pinion 35 rotatably mounted upon the axle II and provided with taperin lugs 40. These lugs 4|! are provided with shoulders 4| arranged to contact with lateral pins 42 carried by a disc 43 fixedly mounted on the axle A spring 44 is mounted between the pinion 39 and the end 45 of the mounting plate for allowing the pinion to move out of operative engagement with "the pins 42 when the pinion is rotated in one direction upon the axle H.

To complete the invention, means is provided fordisengaging the angled end portion 34 of the pawl 33 from engagement with the detents to allow the gear 24 to rotate in a direction under 'the retroactive action of the spring 21. In the present instance, in Figs. 1 and 5, this means comprises a plate 46 fixedly mounted on the bushing 23 in the path of movement of the pawl 33, whereby when the outer end portion of the pawl 33 rides upon the outer end portion of the plate 46 the angled end 34 will be flexed from enelement 32 is in a horizontal position, the outer end thereof is supported by a cross bar 41 carried by the body Ill.

In use the axle I is held against rotation during the pivotal action of the bumper element 32 to rotate the shaft 3| whereby to wind the spring 21 upon the drum 25. In thus winding the spring 21 upon the drum 25 by engagement of the pawl 33 with the detents 35, the spring 21 is placed under the tension. Upon a predetermined winding of the spring upon the drum 25,the outer end portion of the pawl 33 will ride upon the outer end portion of the plate 46 and be flexed from engagement with the detents 35. This arrangement prevents overwinding of the spring upon the drum, and also holds the outer end portion of the pawl 33 from engagement with the detents 35 until release of the axle I for rotation by unwindin action of the spring from the drum 25. In this unwinding action of the spring from the drum 25, the lugs 40 of the pinion 39 will move into engagement with the pins 42 and thus operatively connect the axle H with the gear 38 to impart propulsion to the wheels l3 of the body ill and consequently cause the toy to roll a substantial distance upon the surface supporting the same. During winding action of the spring upon the drum 25, the ta ered lugs 4e willrbe disengaged from the pins 42 to permit this winding of the spring upon the drum without imparting rotation to the shaft II.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive I have shown a modifled form of construction, and in the description of this form of construction, structure having its counterpart in the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive will be designated by like reference numerals.

In this connection the gear 24 is supported by the drum 48, which drum 4B is in the form of a grooved pulley, in the groove of which the spring 2'! is wound.

Carried by this pulley 48 is a partially toothed gear 55 adapted to be engaged by apawl 5| and having an uninterrupted surface 52. The pawl 5| is pivotally carried by an arm 53 fixed to and movable with the shaft 3!. This pawl 5| is normally held from engagement with the teeth of the gear 55 by means of a spring 54, one end 55 of which is connected to the arm as at 55and the opposite end 5? being connected to a cross bar 58 of the chassis 553, as indicated at 53. Ex-

tending upwardly from the cross bar 56 is a plate 5| having a cam surface 62 engaging a pin 33 carried by the end 54 of the pawl 5|, the end 64 serving as a counterweight to pivot the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the gear 5ilwhen the pin 33 is moved out of engagement with the cam surface 52 of the plate 6| by rotation of the shaft 3|. Overwinding of the spring 27 upon the drum 48 is prevented by engagement of thepawl with the uninterrupted surface 52 of the gear 50.

As in the case of the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the front wallsof the vehicle are held by the operator against rotation during the pivoting of the bumper element 32 in an anticlockwise direction. As this bumper element 32 is fixedly secured to the shaft 3|, this rotation of the bumper element 32 will impart rotation to the shaft 3| and as the shaft 3| is rotated in this anticlockwise direction, the pawl 5| by reason of its counterweight tail 64, When the pin 63 is disengaged from the cam edge 62, will engage one of the teeth of the toothed gear and by reason of such engagement, rotation of the drum 48 in an anticlockwise direction will be imparted thereto with the result that the sprin 2'7 will be wound upon the drum. This rotation of the drum 48 will continue until the pawl 5| engages the uninterrupted surface 52, in which case further pivotal movement of the bumper element 32 will in no way effect further rotation of the drum 58 and as a result the spring cannot be overwound upon the drum 48. Upon movement of the bumper element 32 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the pin 63 will be caused to engage the cam edge 52' and as a result the pawl 5| will be pivoted about its pivot and will be disengaged from engagement with the toothed gear 55 during the unwinding operation of the spring from the drum.

In this modified form of construction, the stud shaft 31 on which the gear 38 is mounted, is supported by a mounting bracket 65 attached to the chassis by side bars 55.

To increase the tension of the sprin 27, I provide a plate El attached to the chassis 59 as at 58, the chassis side members being substantially channel-shaped in cross section. This plate 61 is provided with a plurality of spaced notches 69 which receive the end ring 15 of the spring 22'. In leading the spring 2'! for attachment to the plate 61, the spring is payed around a grooved roller 1! horizontally supported by a mounting plate 12 carried by the chassis 59 as 'l he -advantages of the structure herein described becomes obvious from the foregoing description. It is apparent that the form or shape of the toy maybe varied w i'thout depart'ing irom the spirit of the invention.

While '-I-have illustrated and described thepreferred form of construction for carrying my invention into .eiiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit-of the'invention. I, therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but'desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy comprising a body, a wheel'bearing drive axle carried by the body, a drive shaft carried by the body, a gear carried by and rotatable independently of said shaft, a bumper structure carried by the shaft for rotating the latter, a drum provided by said gear, gear means operatively connecting said gear to said axle, a spring having one end connected to the body the other end to the drum and adapted to be placed under tension when wound upon the drum by rotation of the bumper structure, and means carried by and rotatable with the shaft and adapted to engage said gear to operatively connect the gear and said shaft whereby to rotate said gear and the drum provided thereby in a direction to wind a portion of said spring upon said drum to place said spring under tension,

2. A toy comprising a body, a wheel-bearing drive axle carried by the body, a drive shaft carried by the body, a gear carried by and rotatable independently of said shaft, lever means carried by the shaft for rotating the latter, a drum provided by said gear, gear means operatively connecting said gear to said axle, a spring having one end connected to the body and the other end to the drum and adapted to be placed under tension when wound upon the drum by rotation of the lever means, and pawl and detent means carried by and rotatable with the shaft and adapted to engage said gear to operatively connect the gear and said shaft whereby to rotate said gear and the drum provided thereby in a direction to wind a portion of said spring upon said drum to place said spring under tension.

3. A toy comprising a body, a wheel-bearing drive axle, carried by the body, a drive shaft carried by the body, a gear carried b and rotatable independently of said shaft, a bumper structure carried by the shaft for rotating the latter, a drum provided by said gear, gear means operatively connecting said gear to said axle, a spring having one end connected to the body and the other end to the drum and adapted to be placed under tension when wound upon the drurn by rotation of the bumper structure, means carried by and rotatable with the shaft and adapted to engage said gear to operatively connect the gear and said shaft whereby to rotate said gear and the drum provided thereby in a direction to wind a portion of said spring upon said drum to place said spring under tension, and stationary means carried by the body in the path of movement of said last-named means and adapted when enaged by said last-named means to disengage said means from engagement with said gear to permit rotation of said gear and the drum provided thereby independently of said shaft under retraction of said spring.

4. A toy comprising a body, ia wheel bearing drive axle carried by-the body, .a drive shafticarried by the body, a gear carried by and rotatable independently of said shaft, lever means carried by the shaft for rotating the latter, a drum provided by said gear, gear means operatively connecting said gear to saidaxle, a spring having one end connected to the body and the other end to the drum and adapted to be placed under tension when wound upon the drum *by' rotation of the lever means, .a pawl carried b and mitatable with theshaft, said-gear providing detent means adapted for engagement with the pawl to operatively connect the gear and said shaft whereby to rotate said gear and the drum provided thereby in a direction to wind a portion of said spring upon said drum to place said spring under tension, and stationary means carried by the body and disposed in the path of movement of said pawl and adapted when engaged by said pawl to disengage said pawl from said detent means to permit rotation of said gear and the drum provided thereby independently of said shaft under retraction of said spring,

5. A toy comprising a body, a wheel-bearing drive axle carried by the body, a drive shaft carried by the body, a gear carried by and rotatable independently of said shaft, lever means carried by the shaft for rotating the latter, a drum provided by said gear, gear means operatively connecting said gear to said axle, a spring having one end connected to the body and the other end to the drum and adapted to be placed under tension when wound upon the drum by rotation of the lever means, a pawl carried by and rotatable with the shaft, said gear providing detent means adapted for engagement with the pawl to operatively connect the gear and said shaft whereby to rotate said gear and the drum provided thereby in a direction to wind a portion of said spring upon said drum to place said spring under tension, and stationary means carried by the body and disposed in the path of movement of said pawl and adapted when engaged by saidpawl to disengage said pawl from said detent means to permit rotation of said gear and the drum provided thereby under retraction of said spring and to prevent overwinding of said sprin on said drum.

6. A toy comprising a body, a wheel-bearing drive axle carried by said body, a mounting plate within said body, a shaft extending transversely of the body through said mounting plate, a bumper structure carried by said shaft, gear means operatively connecting said shaft with said axle including a gear rotatably carried by the mounting plate and rotatable independently of said shaft, a drum provided by said gear, spring means a portion of which is adapted to be wound on said drum to impart rotation to said gear means, and means providing operative connection between said shaft and said gear for rotating the gear and shaft in a direction to wind a portion of said spring on said drum, said gear being free to rotate in an opposite-direction by retraction of said spring means.

'7. A toy comprising a wheel-bearing axle, a mounting plate comprising longitudinal sections and means for connecting said sections together for longitudinal adjustment with respect to each other, driving means for said axle including a rotatable drum and a spring member, one portion of which is adapted to be wound upon said drum, means for connecting one end portion of said spring member on said drum, and means for connecting the opposite end portion of said spring member to one of the sections of said mounting plate.

8. A toy comprising a body, wheel-bearing axles carried by the body, spring power means, means operatively connecting the spring power means to one of said wheel-bearing axles, a bumper structure pivotally supported by said body, means oper-' ativeiy. connecting the bumper structure to said spring power means whereby upon rotation of said bumper structure said spring power means will be placed under condition to rotate said one of the wheel-bearing axles, and means to prevent overwinding of said spring power means by said bumper structure.

9. Means for driving a wheel-bearing toy in 

